Engineering skills needs – now and into the future

Given recent rapid labour market developments and changing workforce needs, we commissioned labour market analysts Lightcast to explore engineering and technology skills needs, and how these have changed across the engineering sector in recent years.

The resulting report, Engineering skills needs – now and into the future, published in May 2023, provides detailed insights into the engineering and technology sector and concludes:

The number of engineering jobs will grow in all UK regions between now and 2030
25% of all job postings in the UK are for engineering roles
There is an increase in ‘green’ engineering jobs and the trend is likely to continue. In the past 5 years postings for ‘green’ engineering jobs have increased by 55% and postings requiring ‘green skills’ by 48%
The highest number of engineering and technology jobs are in London and the South East, however, the proportional share of jobs in these regions has declined since 2016/17
The occupational composition of engineering varies across UK regions

In our accompanying discussion paper we review some of Lightcast's key findings in more detail and discuss some of the actions required if we’re to meet the engineering and technology skills needs of the future.

This paper looks at the growing demand for engineers, ICT in the engineering footprint, automation and green skill as well as insights into regional differences.

Download the EngineeringUK discussion paper

On publication of the paper, EngineeringUK Chief Executive, Dr Hilary Leevers, commented:

“Given the soaring demand for engineers across all sectors, it’s essential that the UK has a robust plan and funding in place to train the future workforce, bringing more young people from all backgrounds into engineering and technology, alongside reskilling the current workforce.”

“With the growth in green skills, and the central role engineers and technicians play in transitioning to a green economy and addressing climate change, ensuring that the sector has the skilled workforce needed to thrive is more urgent than ever.”

The Lightcast report looks at recruitment activity in engineering, what skills engineering roles require and how those skills are changing. It looks at engineering and the green economy as well as the regional shape of the engineering footprint.

Download the Lightcast report

This report annexe includes skills snapshots for each of the 13 engineering thematic grouping. Each snapshot includes the specialist and software skills most sought after by recruiting employers as well as the top occupations employers have been recruiting for over the past year.

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Engineering skills needs – now and into the future

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